Dairy Owners Critical of Arson Probe : Crime: Firm has been firebombed 3 times since July. Owners say police and city officials aren’t doing enough to protect them or to catch arsonists.

The owners of a drive-through dairy in West Covina say police and city officials are not doing enough to protect them or to catch the arsonists who have firebombed their business three times since July.

The family-owned Rockview Dairy on Vine Avenue was first struck with a Molotov cocktail on July 9, along with Fred’s Ranch Market, about 100 yards down the street, fire officials said.

The fire at Rockview caved in the roof and melted refrigerators, freezers and other equipment, causing $100,000 damage, said one of the owners, Mike Touhey.

The market was destroyed, with damage estimated at $400,000, West Covina fire officials said. The owner could not be reached for comment.

West Covina police say the bombings are related and, after the third one at the dairy, a man was arrested in the case. So far, however, he has refused to cooperate with authorities and no motive has been established.

But Touhey, whose family has operated the dairy for 15 years, says a competitor is trying to put them out of business.

On Aug. 8, arsonists poured gasoline on the dairy’s roof and firebombed it again, causing minor damage.

On Sept. 3, three days after the dairy reopened, fire erupted on the roof again with minor damage resulting.

Police said a witness followed the arsonists’ car and wrote down the description and the license plate number.

As a result, on Sept. 4, police arrested Francisco Rodriguez, 19, of East Los Angeles, who has only admitted driving the car for three men who allegedly started the fires, Moore said. Rodriguez has been charged with arson and is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail in County Jail.

Although all of the fires occurred after the dairy’s 9 p.m. closing time and no one was hurt, Touhey said he fears for his family’s safety. He wants police to beef up security at the business, which remains open, or allow him to carry a gun. He also accuses City Manager James E. Starbird of not doing enough.

“If city officials put themselves in our shoes and if Jim Starbird’s wife and kids were under attack, what level of police involvement would he expect?” Touhey asked. “I expect the same level of protection. I’m no lesser of a citizen than he is.

“I deserve equal protection.”

But Starbird and police officials say they are doing all they can.

“I understand the emotions the Touheys are going through,” the city manager said. “I think that they are painting us with a brush that isn’t particularly fair. We are very responsive to the issue.

“To say we don’t care is unfair.”

Police Arson Detective Brent Moore said Touhey “wants everything under the sun. A 24-hour police stakeout is not financially feasible,” he said.

Moore and city fire officials are still investigating.

“We can’t divulge what we’re doing,” Councilman Steve Herfert said of the city’s efforts to deal with the crimes. “We can’t talk about it as long as police are investigating. We can assure you that we have more security out there.”

Touhey, however, is still not satisfied.

“The city would be forced to do more if a Mervyns or a Circuit City was firebombed, because of the large sales tax revenue they produce,” he alleged. “I don’t produce large sales tax or property tax, which makes a big difference.”

Touhey said he believes a competitor hired people to burn down the dairy because it has been financially stable for 15 years and has not changed ownership, as have other businesses in the area.

Touhey and three of his brothers manage the store, taking turns during the 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. shift working and supervising seven other employees. Despite the attacks, he vowed that his family will not be scared off.

“They have to take me away in a coffin,” Touhey said. “I’ll never leave. I’ll be here until I’m dead. They’re not going to take food off my table.”